A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ storied Free State of Florida falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to fiscal policy.
And tax gimmicks are the reason why, claims a libertarian think tank in its annual report on how the nation’s Governors are managing the public financial trust.
The Cato Institute gives the Sunshine State’s chief executive a Gentleman’s C.
Temporary tax breaks strike the scholars as performative half-measures, essentially, despite Florida being the “second freest state” in its reckoning.
“DeSantis approved a temporary reduction in the corporate tax rate and a bill to avoid business tax increases related to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. DeSantis has frequently signed legislation providing temporary tax breaks, including annual sales tax holidays, rebates, a suspension of the gas tax, and similar sorts of breaks. Using budget surpluses for temporary tax breaks has reduced funds available for spending, but it would have been better to enact permanent tax reforms.”
Cato does credit DeSantis for his vetoes of legislative budget items, saying he does not “shy away” from making cuts. Left unsaid is that many of his cuts are politically retributive rather than driven by a strict profit and loss perspective.
5 comments
THE SAGE "E"
October 19, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Good Afternoon America,
STAND BY FOR NEWS:
This CATO Institute is a George Soros funded group of 100% “DOOK 4 BRAINS LEFTYS”. So Duh … of course they are going to give America’s Govornor, Ron DeSantis, and his Beautiful Wife Casey low marks.
Both Ron & Casey ‘Truley” score A+++ Ratings … with an additional 37 points “Extra Credit”.
Thank you America,
*I’m just glad I was able to insert this “Rating Correction” prior to a bunch of you having read the above Soros Prodaganda*
Yours Truley,
THE SAGE “E”
Tom Palmer
October 19, 2024 at 6:18 pm
Actually, there were some projects that deserved to be vetoed that were not. But they were in Republican districts and involved the usual developer grift for which DeSantis is well known.
MHDuuuval
October 20, 2024 at 11:34 am
Agreed, but to cut all arts programs — across the board — was ham handed. Apparently because one off-the-wall production by one company was naughty, all programs were zeroed out.
Of ounces, this left more money for state taxpayers to buy TV time to combat proposed Amendments 3 and 4, which are coming up for a vote.
MHDuuuval
October 20, 2024 at 11:36 am
Not sure how “Of course” became “Of ounces…”
It's Complicated
October 23, 2024 at 11:40 am
CATO is radical in their application of Libertarianism. As a conservative, I would view an “A” score from CATO as concerning largely because much of government regulation is in place to protect people from the bad behavior of other people and corporations. I don’t want to live in the “buyer beware” world of wholesale deregulation that CATO envisions, because it ignores the reality of human nature. From a conservative point of view, a “C” score from them is about right.
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